Thoreau AAP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But, really, anything is possible. To go on and on about possible outcomes that MAY occur years from now, when there was a current (actual) problem (overcrowding at lj) that needed to be solved, and was somewhat, seems to be a waste of time and energy. Let it go already.

There were other ways to address the problem that didn't involve pulling higher-income areas out of Jackson and weakening the pyramid, like FCPS has already done to other pyramids like Annandale and Lee.

So, no, not going to "let it go." School Board elections are coming up next year and people like Hynes, Palchik, and Keys-Gamarra need to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But, really, anything is possible. To go on and on about possible outcomes that MAY occur years from now, when there was a current (actual) problem (overcrowding at lj) that needed to be solved, and was somewhat, seems to be a waste of time and energy. Let it go already.

There were other ways to address the problem that didn't involve pulling higher-income areas out of Jackson and weakening the pyramid, like FCPS has already done to other pyramids like Annandale and Lee.

So, no, not going to "let it go." School Board elections are coming up next year and people like Hynes, Palchik, and Keys-Gamarra need to go.

What would be your suggestions on how to solve the severe overcrowding at LJ? Most of Marshall Rd ES already fed into Thoreau so it made all the sense in the world to send all the kids to Thoreau. A good portion of Oakton already fed into Thoreau from Flint Hill ES, and Thoreau is closer to many of those Oakton homes than is LJ. Oakton kids already are part of the Vienna youth sports territory (Vienna Little League, VYI Football, Basketball, Lacrosse, Soccer etc.) so many of these kids have their friends going to Thoreau.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But, really, anything is possible. To go on and on about possible outcomes that MAY occur years from now, when there was a current (actual) problem (overcrowding at lj) that needed to be solved, and was somewhat, seems to be a waste of time and energy. Let it go already.

There were other ways to address the problem that didn't involve pulling higher-income areas out of Jackson and weakening the pyramid, like FCPS has already done to other pyramids like Annandale and Lee.

So, no, not going to "let it go." School Board elections are coming up next year and people like Hynes, Palchik, and Keys-Gamarra need to go.

Then focus yourself on something else like running for the school board yourself. Don’t you see you’re not changing minds? A few (very few) agree with you but no one else has changed an opinions on this. You’re all up in arms about a possible outcome that may or may not happen. The reality is that we had a very real problem that this partially solved. You’re soooo focused on the forest (much of which is so exaggerated that you lose all credibility) that you’re missing all the trees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But, really, anything is possible. To go on and on about possible outcomes that MAY occur years from now, when there was a current (actual) problem (overcrowding at lj) that needed to be solved, and was somewhat, seems to be a waste of time and energy. Let it go already.

There were other ways to address the problem that didn't involve pulling higher-income areas out of Jackson and weakening the pyramid, like FCPS has already done to other pyramids like Annandale and Lee.

So, no, not going to "let it go." School Board elections are coming up next year and people like Hynes, Palchik, and Keys-Gamarra need to go.

What would be your suggestions on how to solve the severe overcrowding at LJ? Most of Marshall Rd ES already fed into Thoreau so it made all the sense in the world to send all the kids to Thoreau. A good portion of Oakton already fed into Thoreau from Flint Hill ES, and Thoreau is closer to many of those Oakton homes than is LJ. Oakton kids already are part of the Vienna youth sports territory (Vienna Little League, VYI Football, Basketball, Lacrosse, Soccer etc.) so many of these kids have their friends going to Thoreau.

There was another discussion about the other possible outcomes. Did you read that one? FCPS ready to Screw Poorer/General Ed Kids again.

[Anonymous]

OP, I understand you’re upset. I would be, too. Instead of a guarantee of kids you want your kid to befriend, now your child is only going to know kids in the FCHS pyramid. I get it. I really do-I’m not be snarky. You’re either a Fairhill, Camelot, or Westlawn parent in a HHI area that feeds to FCHS. The OHS bound kids were most similar across many metrics to your child. Now that all the OHS bound kids have been moved to TMS, you feel like your child has lost out on meeting like-minded kids in Gen Ed. I really get it. I’d be mad as a hornet with a broken stinger, too. The good news is that you can move into the OHS pyramid. You may have a bigger house or newly updated house in the FCHS pyramid, but this addresses your real issue. So, check out the websites for homes in 22281 that feed to OHS and just move. Or, continue thinking that your kid is too good for the pyramid in which you currently live. Whatever you decide to do, just do it. But I really do understand your dilemma. And I’m not be sarcastic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But, really, anything is possible. To go on and on about possible outcomes that MAY occur years from now, when there was a current (actual) problem (overcrowding at lj) that needed to be solved, and was somewhat, seems to be a waste of time and energy. Let it go already.

There were other ways to address the problem that didn't involve pulling higher-income areas out of Jackson and weakening the pyramid, like FCPS has already done to other pyramids like Annandale and Lee.

So, no, not going to "let it go." School Board elections are coming up next year and people like Hynes, Palchik, and Keys-Gamarra need to go.

Then focus yourself on something else like running for the school board yourself. Don’t you see you’re not changing minds? A few (very few) agree with you but no one else has changed an opinions on this. You’re all up in arms about a possible outcome that may or may not happen. The reality is that we had a very real problem that this partially solved. You’re soooo focused on the forest (much of which is so exaggerated that you lose all credibility) that you’re missing all the trees.

I give you credit for flipping the line on its head, but it's typically expressed as someone "can't see the forest for all the trees."

Which is exactly what happened here. FCPS facilities staff is so focused on moving bodies that it pays no attention to the consequences of its action, and a School Board that increasingly focuses on fringe issues and national politics didn't lift a finger to ask probing questions or demand the exploration of other alternatives.

The forest here - which a number of posters do see - is that FCPS, through both its actions and its inaction, concentrates poverty in certain pyramids, which serves as a form of educational red-lining. When FCPS asks for money to expand West Potomac, when there are empty seats at Mount Vernon, it sends the message that Mount Vernon is toxic. It does the same thing when it leaves empty seats at Lee, or when it responds to temporary overcrowding at Annandale by repeatedly moving single-family neighborhoods to wealthier schools like Lake Braddock and Woodson. In this case, there were other options to reduce overcrowding at Jackson and expand enrollment at Thoreau that would not drive up the poverty rates at Jackson (the primary middle-school feeder to Falls Church), and yet the facilities staff opted for the option that it knew could be rammed through the quickest. In doing so, it has weakened the entire FCHS pyramid.

Again, the evidence is compelling that such changes will concentrate poverty in certain pyramids. In 2005, before FCPS went on its spree of moving wealthier areas out of Annandale and Poe, Annandale was 38% FARMS and Poe was 46% Today Annandale is 57% FARMS and Poe is 72%. Increases of 19% and 26%, vs. increases of only 1% at Jackson over the same period. But, instead of trying to keep another school from exceeding a tipping point, FCPS kicks them over with no real consideration, and notwithstanding the substantial body of social science research indicating that poorer students fare worse in high-poverty schools.

The liberals on the School Board ought to know better. It's time to replace them with others who are more knowledgeable or, at the very least, less hypocritical.

[Anonymous]

Broken record. Move on. It took 20 years of talks to move the schools to TMS. Hardly a push through quick fix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Broken record. Move on. It took 20 years of talks to move the schools to TMS. Hardly a push through quick fix.

The only outreach was at the schools being moved. No input was solicited from the rest of the school community, and no School Board Work Session open to the public was dedicated to the topic. Nor were any projections of impact on ESOL and FARMS rates shared.

It was a shoddy job by both FCPS Staff and the School Board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But, really, anything is possible. To go on and on about possible outcomes that MAY occur years from now, when there was a current (actual) problem (overcrowding at lj) that needed to be solved, and was somewhat, seems to be a waste of time and energy. Let it go already.

There were other ways to address the problem that didn't involve pulling higher-income areas out of Jackson and weakening the pyramid, like FCPS has already done to other pyramids like Annandale and Lee.

So, no, not going to "let it go." School Board elections are coming up next year and people like Hynes, Palchik, and Keys-Gamarra need to go.

Then focus yourself on something else like running for the school board yourself. Don’t you see you’re not changing minds? A few (very few) agree with you but no one else has changed an opinions on this. You’re all up in arms about a possible outcome that may or may not happen. The reality is that we had a very real problem that this partially solved. You’re soooo focused on the forest (much of which is so exaggerated that you lose all credibility) that you’re missing all the trees.

I give you credit for flipping the line on its head, but it's typically expressed as someone "can't see the forest for all the trees."

Which is exactly what happened here. FCPS facilities staff is so focused on moving bodies that it pays no attention to the consequences of its action, and a School Board that increasingly focuses on fringe issues and national politics didn't lift a finger to ask probing questions or demand the exploration of other alternatives.

The forest here - which a number of posters do see - is that FCPS, through both its actions and its inaction, concentrates poverty in certain pyramids, which serves as a form of educational red-lining. When FCPS asks for money to expand West Potomac, when there are empty seats at Mount Vernon, it sends the message that Mount Vernon is toxic. It does the same thing when it leaves empty seats at Lee, or when it responds to temporary overcrowding at Annandale by repeatedly moving single-family neighborhoods to wealthier schools like Lake Braddock and Woodson. In this case, there were other options to reduce overcrowding at Jackson and expand enrollment at Thoreau that would not drive up the poverty rates at Jackson (the primary middle-school feeder to Falls Church), and yet the facilities staff opted for the option that it knew could be rammed through the quickest. In doing so, it has weakened the entire FCHS pyramid.

Again, the evidence is compelling that such changes will concentrate poverty in certain pyramids. In 2005, before FCPS went on its spree of moving wealthier areas out of Annandale and Poe, Annandale was 38% FARMS and Poe was 46% Today Annandale is 57% FARMS and Poe is 72%. Increases of 19% and 26%, vs. increases of only 1% at Jackson over the same period. But, instead of trying to keep another school from exceeding a tipping point, FCPS kicks them over with no real consideration, and notwithstanding the substantial body of social science research indicating that poorer students fare worse in high-poverty schools.

The liberals on the School Board ought to know better. It's time to replace them with others who are more knowledgeable or, at the very least, less hypocritical.

And with capacity at other middle schools it's worth the question on whether an expansion was even needed at Thoreau to begin with.

[Anonymous]

Im So glad the boundary was changed. Thrilled lj will have less kids next year!! Wahoo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Im So glad the boundary was changed. Thrilled lj will have less kids next year!! Wahoo!

Are you going to make sure some of the trailers are removed as well? Clean the place up a bit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Im So glad the boundary was changed. Thrilled lj will have less kids next year!! Wahoo!

Finally someone who can look at it as a win-win!

[Anonymous]

It took TWO decades, that I know of firsthand, to move MW, MR and OES to TMS. It’s been an issue for the families living in the area for far too long. Thankfully the SB finally heard!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It took TWO decades, that I know of firsthand, to move MW, MR and OES to TMS. It’s been an issue for the families living in the area for far too long. Thankfully the SB finally heard!

All that means is that there are some Oakton HS parents who schemed for a long time to move from a Falls Church HS pyramid school to a Madison HS pyramid school.

It doesn't mean it was the right thing to do, that the process followed was transparent, or that other options shouldn't have received at least equal consideration.

You can gloat, but in the long run it won't help either FCPS or the county as a whole to resegregate the schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It took TWO decades, that I know of firsthand, to move MW, MR and OES to TMS. It’s been an issue for the families living in the area for far too long. Thankfully the SB finally heard!

Why has it been an issue? LJ wasn't overcrowded till recently and all those kids were together that went onto high school. It's the same group of kids now at TMS instead that will also go onto high school at Oakton. Kids in Oakton High School travel much farther than LJ to get to their middle schools. If transportation was an issue for OES, why not push for Hughes?